Scope and Content

The items relating to Melville family members include birth, death and marriage certificates, letters, biographical notes and press cuttings. Those relating to associates include theatrical programmes and drawings, pantomime notes, paintings, contracts, letters and playbills.

Photographs relating to the Melville family and their associates are listed under UKC/MEL/PHO/PEOPLE.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Melville theatrical dynasty spanned four generations, from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. During this time, they were associated with many other theatrical people, including Nelson Lee, an actor and adaptor of plays, especially pantomimes. Andrew Melville I is reputed to have said that Lee was the inspiration behind his career.

Arrangement

This section is split into two parts:

UKC/MEL/PEOPLE/BIO : biographical material relating to the Melville family

UKC/MEL/PEOPLE/ASS : material relating to associates of the Melville family

Note

The Melville Collection is part of the Victorian and Edwardian Theatre Collection, held in Specialist Collections and Academic Archives at the University of Kent.